tory because we know that the charter provides you with a guarantee of access to justice as well. That is why the Bar has been so opposed to the effects of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 and the huge hike in court fees, as these strike at the very substance of that Magna Carta promise. If we move to the next level of the importance of the rule of law, it is its importance in the establishment and maintenance of effective and efficient means of dispute resolution. It is essential that there is a settled body of contract law governing the making and breaking of contracts. There must be a body of law to allocate blame and damages in personal injury cases. There must be law to protect those who have original ideas so that they can profit from their ingenuity thus promoting the intellectual advancement of mankind. And so it goes on, through every phase of the process by which disputes are settled and the consequences worked out, not by the use of violence, but by the employment of the impartial intellect. Again, in that way, business can prosper and society thrive. For all these reasons, I am convinced that the principles enshrined in Magna Carta are as important today as they were in 1215. It is a terrible irony that, as we celebrate Magna Carta, it is being undermined by an executive which pays lip service to its principles. If the legacy of Magna Carta is to last another 800 years, it requires everyone with a sense of history and an understanding of the critical importance of the rule of law to our society to stand up and fight for it. The liberties conferred by this great document were hard won. We owe it to posterity to ensure that they are not lost in our time.
to go to Parliament to seek approval for its actions, has engendered a sense, in the executive, of restraint and what we would now call 6 Actors' Benevolent.pdf 1 09/02/2011 09:09 proportionality. Magna Carta exemplifies an ethos within which ex6 Actors' Benevolent.pdf 1 09/02/2011 09:09 6 Actors' Benevolent.pdf 1 09/02/2011 09:09 ecutive action has been framed. It enshrines the concept of the rule 6 Actors' Benevolent.pdf 1 09/02/2011 09:09 6 Actors' Benevolent.pdf 1 09/02/2011 09:09 of law, which retains centrality in the establishment and maintenance of a fair and tolerant society. That is, what I might call its philosophical legacy. Patron: H.R.H. The Prince of Wales Patron: H.R.H. The Prince of Wales 6 Actors' Benevolent.pdf 1 09/02/2011 09:09 Patron: H.R.H. The Prince of Wales Patron: H.R.H. The Prince of Wales But that philosophical legacy is broader than it first appears. It carries Patron: H.R.H. The Prince of Wales with it what I might call the functional or practical legacy of Magna Carta. It is, for example, a lot harder to work long hours and sacrifice many Patron: H.R.H. The Prince of Wales of the enjoyments of family life rather than it is simply to point a knife or a gun at a shopkeeper and demand the takings from the till. So, why is it that people, en masse, do not simply commit crime to fi…a helping hand nance their lives rather than working for their living? Why is it that …a helping hand for actors since for actors since individuals generally, if grudgingly, pay their taxes? 1882… …a helping hand 1882… …a helping hand …afor helping actorshand since for actors since for actors1882… since 1882… I suggest it is because, although people are never 100% contented 1882… ‘The public’s perception of the acting profession is ‘The public’s perception of the acting profession is with their lot, in general terms, they take the view that the society in that we are glamorous and well paid but the image that we are glamorous andof well paid but the imageis …apublic’s helping hand ‘The perception the acting which they live is equitable, tolerant and fair. And one of the chief of fame and fortune is not the reality forprofession most of ‘The public’s perception of the acting profession for actors since ‘The public’s perception of the acting profession is is of fame and fortune is not the reality for most that we are glamorous and well paid but theof image reasons why they think that is that they know that no-one is above the profession and for some the show will not go 1882… that weare are glamorous and well paid but the image that we glamorous and well paid but the the profession and for is some the show will notimage goof of fame and fortune not the reality for most the law. In other words, the principals enshrined in Magna Carta have on – those actors and actresses who are suffering of fame and fortune not thethe reality forsuffering most of goof ofthe and fortune issome not reality for most on –fame those actors andis actresses who are profession and for the show will not hardship because of illness, accident or old age. led to the very practical doctrine of accountability. the and some thethe show will not go go hardship because offor accident or old age. the profession and for some show will not onprofession – those actors and actresses who are suffering ‘The public’s perception of the acting profession isillness, on – those actors and actresses who are suffering on – those actors and actresses who are suffering hardship because of illness, accident or old age. that we are glamorous and well paid but thefounded image The fund was to provide financial support This is a critical feature of a fair society. And so it is that, instead of hardship illness, accident or old age. The fund because was founded to provide financial support hardship because illness, accident ormaking old age. of fame and fortune is not thefor reality most ofofof suchfor individuals. Please help them by committing crime in order to survive, people will go to work, paysome the for such individuals. help themnancial by making The fund was founded to provide support the profession and for show will not go Please a donation or remembering the fundfiin your will. The was founded Please to provide fithem nancial their taxes and behave in a more or less civilized fashion. In addition, a donation or remembering fund in your will. forfund such individuals. help by support making on – those actors and actresses who are suffering The fund was founded to the provide financial support Thank you.’ for such individuals. Please help them by making Thank you.’ if you want a government contract, you don’t have to pay a series of a donation or remembering the fund in your will. hardship because of illness, accident or individuals. old age. for such Please helpKeith, themC.B.E., by making Penelope DL a donation or rememberingPenelope the fundKeith, in your will.DL C.B.E., bribes to obtain it. And that allows good businesses to thrive and Thank you.’ President a donation or remembering the fund in your will. Thank you.’ support Penelope Keith, President C.B.E., DL The fund was founded to provide financial society generally, to function in a satisfactory way. Thank you.’ DL Dame Penelope Keith, C.B.E., D President for such individuals. Please help them by making 6 Adam Street, London, WC2N 6AD Penelope Keith, C.B.E., DL President 6 Adam Street, London, WC2N 6AD Tel: 020 7836 6378 Fax: 020 7836 8978 a donation or remembering the fund in your will. Magna Carta also specifically provided that you could not be dePresident Tel: 020 office@abf.org.uk 7836 6378 Fax: 020 7836 8978 E-mail: 6 Adam Street, London, WC2N 6AD Thank you.’ prived of your liberty unless through a lawful decision of your peers. E-mail: office@abf.org.uk Registered Charity No. 206524 6 Adam Street, London, WC2N 6AD Tel: 020 7836 C.B.E., 6378 Fax: 020 7836 8978 Penelope Keith, DL Registered Charity No. 206524 Tel: 020 7836 6378London, Fax: 020 7836 8978 In other words, unlike some jurisdictions, you do not live in fear of the 6 E-mail: Adam Street, WC2N 6AD office@abf.org.uk President Registered Charity No. 206524 E-mail: office@abf.org.uk Tel: 020 7836 6378 Fax: 020 7836 8978 knock on the door in the middle of the night and being whisked away Registered Charity No. 206524 E-mail: office@abf.org.uk to prison without any judicial input as to the6 cogency of the evidence Adam Street, London, WC2N 6AD www.actorsbenevolentfund.co.uk Registered Charity No. 206524 Tel: 020timetable 7836 6378by Fax: 020 7836 8978Ad.indd 1 upon which you are being held and without any which Actors Benevolent 9/12/05 16:24:10 Actors Benevolent Ad.indd 1 9/12/05 16:24:10 E-mail: office@abf.org.uk proceedings, in public, can be conducted to decide whether you are Registered Charity No. 206524 Actors Benevolent Ad.indd 1 9/12/05 16:24:10 guilty of any offence. And, here we are in classical Magna Carta terriActors Benevolent Ad.indd 1 9/12/05 16:24:10 Actors Benevolent Ad.indd 1
MAGNA CARTA 800 Years of democracy the barrister 2015
Actors Benevolent Ad.indd 1
9/12/05 16:24:10
5
9/12/05 16:24